Material mixer



Nov. 3, 1936. J. A, ERICKSON MATERIAL MIXER Filed Aug. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l m, mi

Novc 3, 1936., J, AfERlcKsoN v I 2,059,857

MATERIAL MIXER Filed Aug. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlQE Application August 20,

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in material mixers, and has particular reference to small easily portable mixers which are adapted to be operated in adjacent conjunction with consumption of the mixed material.

Herebefore mixer construction has been bulky and cumbrous and as a result it has been necessary to locate the mixer a considerable distance from the point of consumption of the mixed material. For example, in the plastering of a structure, it is customary to mix the plaster at a distant point and transport the same by hod to the point of consumption. As a large percentage of the weight thus transported is water which could be readily brought to the point of consumption by conduits, there is a decided advantage in providing a small compact mixer having a comparatively large capacity which may be located directly in the room of the structure being plastered, for example, and

can be readily moved from room to room. The

same advantages manifest themselves in the mixing of concrete, coal mixture for briquettes, and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a compact mixer in which the driving connection and means are completely encased in an extension of the housing constituting the mixing chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mixer structure which may be economically constructed for the most part from welded sheet metal.

A further object of the invention resides in the novel and effective arrangement of mixing paddles which thoroughly mix the material and at the same time are adapted to propel the material forward through an opening in the mixing chamber.

These and other objects and advantages will be readily apparent as the description progresses. It is to be strictly understood, however, that I do not intend to limit my invention to the exact details herein described and illustrated but I intend to include as part of my invention all such changes and modifications which would suggest themselves to the skilled artisan and would fall within the scope of the annexed claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved mixer.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken from the left of Fig. 1 with the housing broken toV show the paddles and driving mechanism.

1932, serial No. 629,592

(Cl. ca -73) Fig. 3 is a rear elevation taken from the left of Fig. 2 with the end plate removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of my improved mixer.

My improved mixer may be generally defined as consisting of a rectangular housing of uni form cross sections having an open mixing chamber suspended therein. The mixing charm ber has a W-shape bottom constituting two troughs. A driven shaft is located about each trough upon which a single and a double blade paddle are mounted at right angles to each other. Both of the driven shafts are rotated inwardly and the relative angularity of the paddles on the two shafts is such that the opposed double paddles are mounted degrees apart. The single blade paddle and one blade of the double paddle are inclined inwardly at substantially a 30 degree angle with the axis of rotation while the other blade of the double bladed l20 paddle is inclined outwardly toward the dumping door in the housing at about the same angle. With paddles and blades mounted in this manner the bulk of the material being mixed is churned through a cycle simulating a ligure eight with a smaller portion being fed forward through or against the dumping door.

In order that the construction of the mixer will be fully understood, the various parts will now be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein one possible form which my improved mixer may take is illustrated.

As shown in Fig. 1, the mixer I consists preferably of a housing of uniform cross sections having legs. A front plate section 3 has bearings 4 supported through aperture in the plate 3 and reinforced by webs 5 welded to the plate 3. The plate 3 has a large aperture 6 therein which is flushed at the bottom with the troughs to be hereinafter described. A sheet metal door 1 closes the aperture 6 in one position and is slidably supported in guide members 8. The mechanism for opening and closing the door 'I consists of a manually operated lever 9 pivoted at IIJ and having a link II anchored to a stud I2 located upon the door l. A downward movement of the lever 9 will slide the door 'I upwardly in the guide 8.

A partition I3 is secured within the housing I and the rear end thereof has an opening I4 to permit an electric motor I5 to be supported therethrough. Bearings I6, similar to bearings 4, are supported in apertures in the partition I3 and are reinforced by webs I1 similar to webs 55 5. Shafts I 8-I9 are journaled in the bearings 4-I6, and are provided with thrust collars 20- 2I. Paddles 22-23 having blade portions 24- 25, respectively, are adjustably secured to the shafts I 8-I 9 by U-bolts 26 and 21 anchored in split sleeves 28--29. Through this type of coupling, breakage of the blades is prevented in the event an immovable object is encountered, as the frictional grip of the sleeves 28-29 will be broken and the same merely slip upon the shafts I 8-I9.

The relative position the blades bear to their axis of rotation as well as the position of the blades relative to each other forms an important part of the invention. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the blade 24 is inclined inwardly with reference to the direction of rotation. Although my invention is not limited to .any particular angle of inclination, an angle of substantially 30 degrees with the axis of rotation is preferable. As shown in Fig. 4, the paddles 22-23 are in substantially the same plane with the blade 25 rotated through an additional |20 degrees relative to the blade 24. In practice the location of the paddles in the position shown has given the most satisfactory result, however, it is readily apparent, that it is only necessary to position the paddles 23 and 22 upon the shafts I8 and I9 in a manner which will avoid interference with the inwardly rotation of the shafts. The front paddles and 3I are mounted upon the shafts I8 and I9 in a manner similar to the paddles 22 and 23. These paddles are preferably mounted 180 degrees apart as shown in Fig. 4, yet the same elasticity with regards to relative angularity exists here as with the paddles 22-23. Each paddle is equipped with upper and lower blades 32-33 and 34-35, respectively. The upper blades 32-33 are inclined inwardly similar to the blades 24 and 25 While the lower blades 34-35 incline outwardly at substantially the same angle relation to the axis of rotation. I have shown the upper blade inclined inwardly to give the same surface mix as the blades 24 and 25, however, the reverse inclination of the upper and lower blades is within the scope of my invention. Furthermore, it is readily apparent that any number of paddles may be mounted upon the shafts I8-I9, and arranged to carry out the principle of mixing herein disclosed.

All the blades are adjustably secured to the paddles in order to compensate for Wear through provision of a head portion 36 having slots 3'I to receive bolts 38.

Troughs .3Q-4U, of slightly greater inside radius than that of the blades, are suspended in the housing I. Preferably the troughs are equipped with removable bottom liners 4I-42, and end liners 43-44. The liners may be secured in place by any well known Vmeans, for example by. bolts 45. Obviously, the mixing.,a chamber may be provided with a flat or U- shaped bottom in lieu of the trough construction without materially modifying the mixing action.V

The shafts I8 and I9 extend beyond the bearings I6, and have external gears 46 and 4l, fixedly secured thereto. A shaft I8 is journaled in bearings 49 and 58 located in the rear plate of the housing and the partition I3, respectively, and is provided with a pinion gear 5I meshing with the gear 46 which likewise meshes with the gear 4l to drive the same in the opposite direction. A large V-grooved pulley 52 is emoloyed to drive the shaft 48 through a belt 53 and a small pulley 54 on the electric motor I5. A belt tightener is shown at 56. The shaft 48 is preferably driven through pulleys and belts for economy of construction and the advantage of non-positive propulsion of the gearing is eliminating breakage.

In the operation, the mixer is started and the material to be mixed is shoveled or otherwise inserted into the troughs 39 and 40. The material in the mixer is agitated upwardly and inwardly towards the center of the mixing chamber, being circulated through the mixing chamber simulating a figure eight. At the same time, a small portion of the material agitated inwardly bythe blades 24 and 25 is carried by the lower blades 34 and 35 forward against the front plate of the housing. When the material is thoroughly mixed, the door 6 is opened and the blades 34 and slowly and uniformly extrude the material'therethrough. During this period, however, the remaining blades continue the upwardly and inwardly mixing of the entire material.

Although the above described structure is especially adapted for electric welding fabrications, it is in no sense limited to this particular type of construction as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A material mixer of the class described, comprising a mixing chamber having front and rear walls, parallel shafts located in said chamber, opposed agitating paddles secured to said shafts having blades inclined inwardly relative to said rear wall, additional opposed paddles also secured to said shafts having certain blades inclined inwardly relative to said front wall, and certain other blades adjacent said front wall and radially spaced from said blades inclined inwardly relative to said front wall, inclined outwardly, an adjustable aperture in said front wall intermediate said shafts, and mechanism for rotating said shafts inwardly.

2. A material mixer of the class described, comprising a mixing chamber having front and rear walls, parallel shafts located in said chamber, opposed agitating paddles secured to said shafts having blades inclined inwardly relative to said rear wall, additional opposed paddles also secured to said shafts substantially 180 degrees apart having certain blades inclined inwardly relative to said front wall, and certain other blades adjacent said front wall and radially spaced from said blades inclined inwardly relative to said front wall, inclined outwardly, the angularity between the said paddles on the same shaft being substantially 90 degrees, an adjustable aperture in said front wall intermediate said shafts, and suitable mechanism for rotating said shafts inwardly at the same speed.

3. A material mixer of the class described comprising a mixing chamber defining two parallel troughs, shafts arranged above each trough, paddles upon said shafts having blades adapted to successively agitate the material inwardly from all directions, an adjustable aperture in one end of said chamber, additional blades adjacent said aperture and radially spaced from said blades on certain of said paddles adapted to agitate a portion of the material outwardly through said aperture, and suitable mechanism for rotating said shafts inwardly at the same speed.

4. A material mixer of the class described comprising a mixing chamber dening two parallel troughs, shafts arranged above each trough, paddles upon said shafts to successively agitate the material upwardly and inwardly from all sides, a discharge opening in said mixer at one end thereof and between said troughs, said inwardly mixing paddles adjacent the discharge end of the mixer being spaced from the bottom of said troughs, discharge blades located below said inwardly mixing paddles adjacent the discharge end and supported therewith, said additional blades acting in the same plane of the associated inwardly mixing blade and acting to discharge the material through said opening.

5. A material mixer of the class described comprising a mixing chamber, parallel shafts located in said chamber, paddles upon said shafts adapted to agitate the material upwardly and inwardly from all sides, a discharge opening in said mixer at one end thereof and between said shafts, said paddles adjacent the discharge end of the mix being provided with discharge blades for urging a portion of the material toward said discharge opening, said inwardly agitating paddles last mentioned being located above said discharge blades, whereby the lower stratum of material adjacent the discharge end is urged toward the discharge opening and the upper stratum is urged inwardly.

6. A material mixer of the class described comprising a mixer chamber, parallel shafts located in said chambers, agitating means located upon shafts rotatable therewith for mixing said material upwardly and inwardly from all sides and away from the sides of said chamber, a discharge opening in said mixer at one end thereof and between said shafts, discharging means located upon said shafts adjacent the discharge end of the mixer urging the material toward said discharge opening, said first and second means adjacent the discharge end urging upper and lower stratum of material inwardly and outwardly, respectively.

7. A material mixer of the class described comprising a mixing chamber, parallel shafts located in said chamber, paddles on said shafts to agitate material in said chamber upwardly and inwardly from all sides, a discharge opening in said mixer in one end thereof and between said shafts and a blade adjacent the discharge end of said chamber disposed at an angle to said discharge opening to crowd material within said chamber toward said opening, said crowding blade being associated with one of the inwardly agitating blades and having a common mounting therewith but being radially spaced therefrom.

8. A material mixer of the class described comprising a mixing chamber having a bottom defining two parallel troughs, shafts arranged above each trough, paddles on said shafts adapted to agitate material in said chamber upwardly and inwardly from' all sides, a discharge opening in said chamber at one end thereof between said shafts and staddling. the ends of the adjacent sides of said troughs and discharging means adjacent said opening mounted with and radially spaced from one of said paddles to discharge material within said chamber through said opening.

JOHN A. ERICKSON. 

